Kaimon Rucker details how he has grown throughout offseason

North Carolina linebacker Kaimon Rucker is hoping to lead an improved unit on that end of the field for the Tar Heels in his fourth year with the program. As a veteran now, Rucker says he’s trying to develop into the ideal Jack linebacker for the UNC defense. At recent media availability, Rucker expressed that he’s off to a great start with his offseason, since he’s healthy this time around after being injured a year ago, while also getting plenty of help from his coaches.

When discussing his progress so far this spring, Rucker immediately thanked his better luck in the injury department:

“Well, first of all, I’m just blessed I get to practice this offseason, you know what I’m saying, because last last year I didn’t have that opportunity. I didn’t participate in spring because of my knee. So, just initially man, just being able to practice in the off-season, getting out there with the boys. Man, it’s a great experience great to be back out there.”

He then went on to emphasize the “little things” that he’s really working hard to improve at in between last fall and the upcoming one.

“But just like last year progressed, man, I just wanted to hone in them a little things. So like, I know for me, I was going to be transitioning into the Jack position. So, just learning coverages, learning how to tackle better, how to cover, how you feel little things of that nature and how to polish up on my pass rush, how to get better as a run defender — things of that nature, those are kind of the little things that I wanted to do progressing into this year. And I feel like I’m on the right track of doing so, so that’s kind of what I’m still doing right now.”

As part of a later answer, Rucker dove deeper into how he’s improving and growing into that Jack linebacker role. He couldn’t stress enough the importance of communicating with his position coach as he takes on this challenge ahead of his fourth year.

“Oh and speaking on the progression, man, just like I’m saying, the only issue with me was just like learning coverages how to see different formations and stuff — two by two, three by one’s — an my drops in certain scenarios with a given calls. And so, like, when it came down to it, with me being a full-time Jack, I can actually get the one-on-one time that I meet with coaches and stuff like that to ask them, like: ‘Hey, if I have this scenario, what do I do?’ Different stuff of that nature… ‘Where am I supposed to be?’

“So just getting that one-on-one time talking to coach and just asking him questions, like pick his mind a little bit of how I can be a better Jack outside linebacker. It just allowed me to be more successful in that position.”

North Carolina will be relying heavily on Kaimon Rucker and his stability in the linebacker corps. Sounds like he’s taking his increased role in year four seriously this summer.